Earlier this month, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) introduced H.R.4209, the America Wins Act – a bill which would invest $1 trillion, through taxing harmful pollution, in our infrastructure over a decade. Under this legislation, $400 billion will be invested in existing federal highway programs and eliminate the $138 billion Highway Trust Fund (HTF) shortfall; $100 billion will be invested in existing federal transit programs; $50 billion is directed towards intercity passenger rail infrastructure; $50 billion will be used for multimodal projects under the TIGER program; $30 billion will be invested in our aviation system; $50 billion go towards safe drinking water and sewer systems; $64 billion will be invested into waterways, ports, dams, and levees; and $30 billion will go towards broadband infrastructure development.
$50 billion, or $5 billion annually, will be directed towards coal country revitalization efforts and fund worker retraining programs, pensions and healthcare benefits, mine reclamation, carbon minimization technologies, and overall economic development.
$800 billion is directed towards a tax rebate for working and middle-income families as well as an energy refund for low-income households. A carbon tax, starting $49 a ton and increase 2% annually above inflation, would pay for the infrastructure investment and not add to the national debt.
Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA), Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Val Demmings (D-FL), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rep. Alcee Hastings ( D-FL), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) are original cosponsors.
ASCE’s President Kristina L. Swallow, P.E., ENV SP, F.ASCE said about the legislation:
“By investing $1 trillion over the next decade in our nation’s infrastructure, the America Wins Act will address our infrastructure needs and help rebuild our nation and economy.”
We support this legislation and strongly urge Congress to act and find ways to rebuild and invest in our infrastructure. We will be following this legislation closely, and keep you apprised of the latest developments.